Convertible chair for infants



Feb. 22, 1949. R, F, REIMA 2,462,675

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR FOR INFANTS Filed Aug. 4, 1947 INVEINTOR. A :2}. 3

Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE IONVER'IIBLE CHAIRFOR INFANTS Robert F. Reiman, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application August 4, 1947, Serial No. 765,883

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a convertible chair forinfants adapted for general .use as a chair or as a toilet seat.

An object of the invention is to afford a chair structure having foldingparts connected together in such manner as to permit complete collapseof the chair when not required for use, thus to facilitate portabilityand storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding chair having atoilet seat provided with a hinged cover therefor that also serves, whenunfolded, as a foot rest.

And a further object of the invention is to provide folding legs for thetoilet seat and hinged brace members by which to sustain the toilet seatin place when positioned for use.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a foldable tray inconnection with the chair structure that serves also as an extension forthe back rest for the chair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the followingdescription.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structure in whichthe invention is incorporated, the parts being arranged in unfoldedposition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair in unfolded position foruse as a toilet and with the folding tray in an intermediate position;and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the chair, the hinged cover being in foldedposition.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a chairstructure having a toilet seat .ing I I therein.

Each side of the toilet seat 5 is connected with a corresponding basebar l2 by means of folding legs I3, the ends of which are securedrespectively thereto by means of hinge straps i4l5, the legs and theirhinged connections being arranged to permit movement of the toilet seatbackwardly onto the base bars l2.

Folding arm rests [5 are provided which are pivotally secured on thecorresponding sides of the back rest 6 by means of pintles ii, and atray I8 is provided having arms I9, the extending end portions of whichhave elongated slots 20 through which the pintles l'l extend, the armsbeing interposed loosely between the arm rests and the back rest so asto permit sliding movement of the arms therebetween. On each'side of theback rest is secured a stirrup 2! through whichthe arms l9 are disposedwhen thetray is positioned on the top of the back rest 6, thus to holdthe tray in place thereon to serve as an extension for the back rest.

The forward ends of the arm rests 56 are supported by links 22, the endsof which are hingedly connected respectively with the arm rests and theseat 5 so as to permit forward folding movement of the arm rest and theback rest connected therewith. Each arm rest has an inwardly extendingstop 23 for engagement with the corresponding arm 19 to limit downwardswinging movement thereof and thus sustain the tray in operativeposition.

The chair is held in unfolded position by braces 24 that are secured atone end to the seat 5 by hinge straps 25, their opposite ends beingremovably secured on the corresponding base bars l2 by clamp plates 26held in place by thumb nuts 21.

A safety strap 28 is secured in its midportion to the back rest 6 withits free ends arranged to encompass the torso of the occupant, or; toencircle the chair when collapsed to prevent unintentional unfoldingthereof.

When the chair is unfolded the lower end of the back rest and the rearend of the toilet seat are secured together by means of a spring tongue29 on the back rest that has latching engagement with a pin 35! on therear end of the seat.

Operation When the chair is used for toilet purposes, the parts arearranged (Fig. 1) with the toilet seat elevated, and the cover extendedwith its outer end resting upon the base bars. By turning the cover backinto folded position the toilet seat is concealed and the cover thenaffords a seat for general use.

When use of the tray is desired as such, the tray together with its armsis elevated so that the arms are removed from the stirrups 2i and thenswung forwardly so the arms rest upon the stops 23 in the plane of thearm rests 16, in front of the occupant.

To collapse the chair completely, the cover 8 is first folded back ontothe toilet seat 5, the tray is then repositioned upon the back rest withthe slotted arms inserted through the stirrups, and the spring tongue issprung out of engagement with the pin 30 permitting the back rest,together with the tray and the arm rest to swing forwardly down upon thecover. The links 22 afford guidance for the arm rests in their foldingand unfolding movements. The braces 24 are then released from the clampplates 25, by manipulating the thumb nuts 21, and folded forwardly underthe toilet seat, thus permitting'the s at together with the superimposedcover, back rest, tray and arm rests, to be bodily swung backwardly anddownwardly onto the base bars. The folded parts are then secured"together by encirclement thereof with the safety-strap. Variations fromthe particular construction above disclosed may be resorted to by theexercise of skill in the art, without departure from the spirit or scopeof the invention.

.WhatIclaimis:

- '1. A childs folding chair in which is included base bars, a toiletseat provided with legs hingedly connecting said bars and toilet seat,braces hingedly connected with the toilet seat and removably secured tosaid base bar and adapted to'be foldedforwardlyunder the toilet seat, aback rest hingedly connected with the rear end of thetoilet seat, andhaving latched connection therewith when in unfolded position, arm restshaving pivotal connection with saidback rest,

links connecting said arm rests'with said seat, a cover hingedlyconnected to the front end of said seat, adapted to be folded backwardlythereon to conceal same, and provide a foot rest when unfolded, a trayhaving slotted extending arms disposed loosely between the arm rests andthe back rest having sliding movement on the pivotal supports therefor,stops on said arm rests adapted to limit movement of said arms in onedirection, and stirrups on said back rest for the reception of said armswhen the tray is positioned on the back rest.

2. In a childs folding chair, a toilet seat, a support for's aid seatincluding base bars and legs, the seat being adapted to be foldedrearwardly onto said base bars, braces hingedly connected with said seatand removably attached to said base bars, a back rest hingedly connectedto the rear end of said seat. adapted to be folded forwardly and havinglatched connection with the seat when in unfolded position, arm restssupported by pintles on the back rest and hinged links connecting thearm rests with said seat, a cover hingedly connected with the front endof said seat, adapted to afford a foot rest when unfolded and to concealthe toilet seat when folded, a tray having slotted arms disposed looselybetween the arm rests and back rest having sliding movement on saidpintles, and stirrups on the sides of the back rest for the'reception ofsaid arms when the tray is positioned on the back rest.-

, 3. A childfs folding'chairconsisting of a toilet seat, a hinged coveron said seat that when folded zbackwardly conceals said seat andwhen inunfolded position afiords a foot rest, a folding support for said seatincluding base bars andlegs :hingedly connecting the baseba-rs and seat,

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back rest adapted to receive the ends of said slotted arms when the trayis positioned upon said back rest to afford an extension thereof, andfolding arm rests hingedly connected with the back rest and seat,provided with stops to limit folding movement of the tray.

4. A childs chair consisting of a toilet seat, a support for theseatincluding base bars, legs hingedly connecting same with said seat,and foldable braces detachably connected with said base bars andhingedly connected to the seat, a hinged member on the forward end ofthe seat to cover same when folded and to afford a foot rest whenunfolded, and a back rest, hinged to the rear end of'the seat, havinglatched engageinent therewith when in unfolded position, and adapted tobe folded forwardly onto the cover when the chair is collapsed.

5. A childs chair consisting of a toilet seat, a collapsible supportupon which the seat folds rearwardly, a cover hinged to the forward endof said seat that affords a foot rest when unfolded forwardly, andconceals the seat when folded backwardly, and a back rest hinged to therear end of the seat, having latched engagement therewith when unfolded,and overlies the cover when folded.

6. A childs chair having a toilet seat provided with a cover hinged toits forward end adapted when unfolded to afford a foot rest and havinghinged to its rear end a back rest so that the cover when folded backonto the seat, and the back rest is folded forwardly onto the cover, thefolded parts and the seat are then in parallel compact formation, acollapsible support for the seat including base bars and legshingedly-connecting same with said seat, and folding braces hinged tothe seat and detachably connected with said base bars adapted to supportthe seat in operative position.

ROBERT F. REIMAN.

REFERENCES I CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date

